Maryland's 10 presidential electors met at noon Monday to formally cast the state's Electoral College votes for president. It was the 59th time that Maryland presidential electors met at the State House in Annapolis. Maryland is one of six states to have participated in every Electoral College vote.History: A history of Maryland's Electoral College meetings from 1789 to 2016 "Maryland being one of just six states to participate in all, in this historic capital, in this historic State House, it does mean a lot and it is very special," said Jared DeMarinis, director of the Candidacy and Campaign Finance Division of the Maryland State Board of Elections. "We see the power of a system that has been in place since 1789," said Kathleen Matthews, secretary of the Democratic Presidential Electors.At the first meeting in 1789, only six of Maryland's electors showed up to vote -- the other two were delayed by bad weather. There was bad weather again this year, but all 10 electors arrived to meet.It was a solemn ceremony rooted in hundreds of years of tradition with some changes due to the coronavirus pandemic -- everyone was wearing masks and seated further apart than in the past at an event that was closed to the public but livestreamed for all. Gov. Larry Hogan opened the meeting by welcoming viewers of the livestream."I especially want to welcome all the young people who are watching this great civics lesson and witnessing how our democracy works," Hogan said.The electors each announced their vote before making it official with a series of signatures on certificates."I proudly cast my vote for Joe Biden for president of the United States," elector Patrick Hunt said."(I) proudly cast my vote -- integrity and for honor -- for Joseph R. Biden," elector Sheree Sample-Hughes said. "It was really humbling to be able to serve in this capacity.""On behalf of my daughter, for a vice president that looks like her, I cast my vote for Kamala D. Harris," elector Kent Roberson said."This is something that is very emotional, and I can't describe it. I'm very thankful," elector Sachidanand Hebbar said."I cast my vote for the first woman ever to be vice president," elector Peter Perini Sr. said."I, Thelma Daley, as a proud Black woman, do cast my vote for vice president of the United States for Kamala Harris," elector Thelma Daley said.Secretary of State John Wobensmith carried the certificates of vote on to the next step in the process to be sent to the president of the U.S. Senate, Vice President Mike Pence."I think we're actually sending it in two ways this time because there was a concern about the mail, so we're actually sending it in two different ways so that it gets there in time," Wobensmith said.To ensure it arrives to the Senate in time, state elections officials told 11 News they are sending two separate, but identical bundles of documents via UPS. "It's the culmination of the entire process and the administration behind it to show how open and transparent American elections really are," DeMarinis said. Read the governor's full remarks: "Good afternoon, and thank you all for being here. I want to thank Secretary of State John Wobensmith, Jared Demaris of the State Board of Elections, and all of our distinguished Maryland electors. And I want to especially welcome all of the young people who are watching this great civics lesson and witnessing our democracy in action."Today, for the 59th time in our history, members of the Electoral College are gathering in state capitals across America to cast their votes for president and vice president of the United States."Maryland has the distinction of being one of just six states that has participated in every single one of these solemn occasions since 1789, when George Washington became our nation’s very first president."Of course, General Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army right downstairs in our Old Senate Chamber in this very State House, which served as the first capital of the United States after we ratified the Treaty of Paris right here, ending the Revolutionary War."But it was even before that, in 1776, when Maryland adopted the Electoral College for the election of our state senators. In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton cited Maryland’s Electoral College model as a basis for the system which was adopted by our Founding Fathers."Here in Maryland, these constitutional votes have always been documented in what we lovingly refer to as the 'Old Book,' which has been brought here today by the Maryland State Archives."The state of Maryland has 10 total electoral votes. Our electors are required to meet here in this State House, and they are required to take an oath and then to officially cast their votes for the candidates who received a majority of the votes in the great state of Maryland."After your vote is taken and this meeting is adjourned, as governor of Maryland, my responsibility is to officially declare and certify the winning votes of our state's electors by executing seven Certificates of Ascertainment under the seal of our great state."The official electoral votes will be sealed and delivered to the president of the United States Senate, who is also the vice president of the United States. Vice President Pence will then open them and read them before both houses of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021."A total of 538 electoral votes are being cast all across the nation, and of course a minimum of 270 electoral votes are required to officially elect a president and vice president."The peaceful transition of power that we formally take part in here today is a hallmark of our democracy that has been handed down for more than 220 years."At times, it has been tested and even questioned, but it is a reminder that despite our differences, we are united as Americans who honor the will of the people through the greatest and most enduring democratic process that the world has ever known."Thank you for playing an important role in that process."